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Sabathia still in search of first win

Apr 22, 2008 - 1:02 PM Cleveland (7-12) at Kansas City (9-10) 8:10 pm EDT

KANSAS CITY, Missouri (Ticker) - C.C. Sabathia was nothing short of dominant on his way to his first American League Cy Young Award last season. Unfortunately, his encore had been absolutely dreadful.

Sabathia eyes his first win of the season when the Cleveland Indians kick off a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.

Sabathia (0-3, 13.50 ERA) nearly set career highs across the board last season when he went 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA and 209 strikeouts in his award-winning campaign. However, he was roughed up in three postseason starts, going 1-2 with an 8.80 ERA

The lefthander's lack of control has been his downfall in the early season.

After walking just 37 batters in 241 innings a season ago, Sabathia has already issued 14 free passes in just 18 innings this season.

The same problems plagued him once again on Wednesday, when he surrendered nine runs and eight hits with five walks over just four innings in a 13-2 home loss to Detroit.

While he hasn't experienced quite the same struggles as his counterpart, Gil Meche (1-2, 6.08) has also struggled with his control, walking 13 batters over 23 2/3 innings.

The righthander permitted two runs and six hits over six frames in a 3-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Wednesday - the Royals' last win before their current four-game skid.